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The PhD Life Coach

The PhD Life Coach

By: Vikki Wright
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Whether you're a PhD student or an experienced academic, life in a university can be tough. If you're feeling overwhelmed, undervalued, or out of your depth, the PhD Life Coach can help. We talk about issues that affect all academics and how we can feel better now, without having to be perfect productivity machines. We usually do this career because we love it, so let's remember what that feels like! I'm your host, Dr Vikki Wright. Join my newsletter at www.thephdlifecoach.com.

© 2026 The PhD Life Coach
Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • 4.44 How to do a PhD later in life (a double coaching episode)
    Jun 29 2026

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

    Whether you are doing your PhD later in life, you supervise older PhD students, or you’re younger and sometimes feel like you’re not ready for academia, then this episode is for you. You’ll hear me coach Louise and Kath, who are doing their PhDs later in life. We discuss how imposter syndrome hits different when you’ve got prior experience, the impact of other commitments, and even some regrets. Both take some tangible next steps away from the session, so I hope you will too, whatever your life stage.

    If you liked this episode, you might also like this episode on doing a PhD with menstrual dysfunction.

    ****
    I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464

    I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • 4.43 How I made an idiot of myself (circa 2011)
    Jun 22 2026

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

    I was bored, feeling imperfect, and came up with the idea to share with you some of my idiocies from the depths of my academic career! I was very active on Facebook in the early to mid years of being an academic and apparently had no shame - in today’s episode, I share many statuses that will hopefully make you laugh AND remind you that you don’t need to be sensible or perfect to succeed in academia!

    If you liked this episode, you should check out the opposite end of the scale - how I finished my PhD in just over two years (and why I wouldn’t recommend it).

    ****
    I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464

    I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • 4.42 How to plan time off when you’re busy
    Jun 15 2026

    Send Vikki any questions you'd like answered on the show!

    It’s coming to a time of year where you might be planning some time away from work, whether that’s a full holiday, a clear weekend, or even just not working in the evenings if you usually do. The trouble is, we’ve all also got a thousand things to do, and often end up telling ourselves that we don’t have time to take a break or that we will only feel guilty if we do. In this episode I take you through a process of deciding what you need, planning what that could look like, and addressing the worries you have about taking the time for yourself.

    If you liked this episode, you should check out my pair of episodes on how to prepare for your academic summer - one focuses on “acceptance and resistance” and the other on “structure and freedom”.

    ****
    I'm Dr Vikki Wright, ex-Professor and certified life coach and I help everyone from PhD students to full Professors to get a bit less overwhelmed and thrive in academia. Please make sure you subscribe, and I would love it if you could find time to rate, review and tell your friends! You can send them this universal link that will work whatever the podcast app they use. http://pod.link/1650551306?i=1000695434464

    I also host a free online community for academics at every level. You can sign up on my website, The PhD Life Coach. com - you'll receive regular emails with helpful tips and access to free online group coaching every single month! Come join and get the support you need.

    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
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